Door lock



June 19, 1951 J, ROETHEL 2,557,468

' DooR Locx Filed Sept. 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 19, 1951 J. H. ROETHEL 2,557,468

nooR Locx Filed Sept. 29, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VEE- Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE DOOR LOCK John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Roethel Engineering Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 29, 1948, Serial No. 51,719

8 Claims. l

This invention relates to latch mechanism for the swinging doors of various structures. Although a desirable adaptation of the present invention is in connection with the doors of vehicle bodies, such as automobile bodies, the invention may be applied to other uses.

An object of the invention is to provide a door latch mechanism which is small in size, relatively simple and compact in construction, eilicient and positive in operation, economical to manufacture in large quantities, comparatively quiet in operation when closing the door, and easy to release when opening the door.

In accordance with the embodiments of the invention, herein illustrated by way of example, there is provided a rotatable latch device mounted on a support for the latch mechanism, such as a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a flange extending from the inner edge thereof. The latch mechanism also comprises detent means pivotally mounted on the plate portion of the support and engageable with the latch device for holding it in door latchlng position. Pivotally mounted on the plate portion is a detent release lever which is manually operable from the outside of the door. The detent means is adapted to swing in one direction independently of or relatively to the lever about a common pivot axis therewith. The lever and detent means have parts arranged in opposing relation so as to abut upon swinging movement of the lever thereby to pivotally move the detent means out of holding position with respect to the latch device. Blocking means for the lever is provided, comprising a member mounted for up and down movement on the support and having blocking means cooperable with a portion on the lever. This blocking member is moved through the medium of inner manually operable means so as to dispose its blocking means in position to be engaged by the blocking portion on the lever thereby to block the lever and render the same ineiiectiveto move the detent means out of holding position with respect to the latch device. For the purpose of disengaging the detent means from the inside of the door, the detent means is provided with an arm extending toward the flange portion of the support into position to be engaged by inner manually operable means, such as a remote controlled blocking (Cl. Zim- 280) lever, effective to swing the detent means relatively to the lever to disengage the detent means from the latch device. In certain embodiments the detent is capable of motion independently of the outside manually operable release means so as to shift the slide into position to render such release means operative.

Another object of the invention is to provide animproved door latch mechanism embodying a fully rotatable latch device together with a fully rotatable detent engaging member by which the latch device is positively held through the medium of a detent in any position to which it may be rotated. More specifically an object is to form the latch device as a toothed member which, when the detent is disengaged, is unrestrained against rotation in any rotate into locking relation to its striker regardless of the position to which the latch device is turned.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved latch mechanism having a rotatable latch formed peripherally with tooth-like projections engageable with a rack-type striker preferably formed to provide two locking positions for the latch, i. e. a safety locking position and a final locking position, the latch being positively held in either latching position by means of a detent, dog or the like engageable with a rotatable member fixed to the latch and carrying detent engaging portions corresponding in number to the number of tooth-like projections on the latch.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specication wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a portion of an automobile body provided with swinging doors upon which latch devices made in accordance with the present invention are installed.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially through lines 2`2 of Fig. l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is afragmentary vertical section taken substantially through lines 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a view generally similar to Fig. 3 but direction, yet which willV illustrating certain of the parts in a different position.

Fig. is a view generally similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating the detent in 'disengaged position.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the structure showny in Fig. 5, this view being taken from the right in Fig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a. vertical section taken substantially through lines 1-1 of Fig. 6 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially through lines 3-8 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially through lines 3-9 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is a view generally similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a slight modification.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understood that the invention is not limited inits application to the details of construction and varrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the drawings there are illustrated, by way of example, certain embodiments of the present invention as applied to the doors and door frame structure of an automobile body. As illustrated in Fig. 1 the automobile body, generally designated at A, is provided with a front door B which is hinged at itsfront edge so as to swing against a door post or body pillar in accordance with conventional practice. The automobile body of the illustrated type is also provided with a rear swinging door C. Each door comprises an outer metal door panel and an inner metal door panel 2|, see Fig. 2. The panel 2| terminates in a transverse jamb edge or portion 22 facing the fixed jamb face or edge 23 (Fig. 6) of the door frame post or body pillar.

Adapted to be secured, as by means of screws, l

to the inner side of the jamb portion 22 of the door is a case plate 24 terminating at its inner edge in a longitudinally extending flange 25 facing the inner door panel 2|. The present latch device is preferably provided with a rotatable toothed latch or bolt 26 positioned at the outer face of the case plate 24, see Figs. 6 and 9, this latch or bolt having an integral projecting stud shaft or pivot 21 extending through an aperture in the case plate and having a bearing in an annular flanged edge 28 of this aperture. The inner end of the stud or shank 21 of the bolt is flattened and extended through a correspondingly shaped aperture in a rotatable detent or dog engaging member 29, the inner end of the stud 21 being riveted over this member so as tc rigidly anchor the same to the bolt. The member 2S is formed from flat stock and has bearing engagement against an annular embossment 24a on the case plate.

The rotatable latch 26, as shown in Fig. 7, is formed lwith a number of radially projecting tooth-like projections 30, such as six, which are spaced equally entirely around the periphery of the latch so as to provide in effect a gear type latch. The detent engaging plate or member 29 is formed around its periphery with a number of tooth-like abutments or shoulders 3| which correspond in number to the number of tooth-like projections 30. Each tooth 3| of the member 26 is formed at one side with a relatively short outwardly curved edge 3|a and at the opposite side with a relatively long curved camming edge 3lb. A detent receiving space 3lc is thus formed between the edges 3|a and 3|b of each adjacent pair of teeth or projections 3| and it will be noted that the edge 3|a of each such space curves outwardly and away from the edge 3|b of the space.

Cooperable with the rotatable detent engaging member 29 is a swinging detent, pawl or dog 32 pivotally mounted upon the shank of a stud or shoulder rivet 33 secured to the case plate 24, see Fig. 8. The detent or dog 32 is provided with a detent arm 34 having a curved end corresponding substantially to the curvature of the edge 3 |a of each projection 3| when the detent arm 34, as shown in Fig. 2, is fully seated within a toothed space 3|c. The detent 32 has an upwardly projecting arm or extension 35 terminating in a laterally extending lug or projection 35a. The detent also has an inwardly extending arm or extension 36. The detent is thus provided with three arms 34, 35 and 36 and is preferably formed from a single piece of flat metal stock.

Associated with the detent 32 is a detent actuating or release lever 31 which is pivoted at its lower end upon the shoulder rivet 33 so as to turn or swing about the axis of the detent 32. The release lever 31 has an outwardly extending arm terminating in a lateral flange 31a positioned for engagement by a plunger or the like 38 which may be shifted inwardly to swing the lever 31 on its pivot 33 by any suitable manually operable means on the outside of the door such, for example, as a handle or by any other preferred means such as a push button associated with the outside door handle. The detent 32 is yieldingly urged toward the plate 29 and the detent release lever 31 is urged outwardly toward its retracted position shown in Fig. 2 by means of a common spring 39. This spring has a depending arm engaging the detent arm 34 and h'as an upper spirally wound or coiled portion 39a secured at 40 to the case plate 24. It will be noted that the release lever 31 overlies the detent 32 and has its inner edge abutting against the lug or projection 35a on the detent. Hence, the effort exerted by the spring 39 in urging the detent arm 34 into engagement with the member 29, as shown in Fig. 2, will also be transmitted through the lug 35a to the release lever 31, thereby urging the latter toward its retracted position. The lever 31, for a purpose hereinafter described, has an arm or extension 4| projecting in the direction of the case plate flange 25.

The latch device constructed in accordance with the present embodiments preferably incorporates a remote control mechanism for permitting release or disengagement of the detent 32 by operation of an inside door handle or other manually operable means. This mechanism is preferably manually actuated from the inside of the door remote from the case plate 24 by means of a door handle which may be turned in the desired direction. Suitably connected to the inside door handle is a longitudinally extending draft link 42 which is pivoted at 43 to the lower end of one arm 44a of a bell crank lever 44. This lever is pivoted at 45 to the case plate flange 25 and is provided with a projecting lever` arm 44h overlying at its outer end the detent arm 36. Normally when the inside door handle is turned so as to swing the lever arm 44h downwardly, the latter by engagement with the detent arm 36 will swing the detent, thus swinging the detent arm 34 upwardly `from the position shown in Fig. 2 tothe position shown in Fig. 5 so as to disengage it from the member 29. A similar action occurs when the release lever 31 is swung inwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, by operation of the outside door handle, push button or the like, the motion of the release lever being transmitted to the detent through the lug 35a.

In the embodiment of Figs, i to 6 inclusive means is provided for rendering the detent release lever 31 inoperative to disengage the detent 32, such as by blocking the same so that 'the door cannot be opened from the outside. In the illustrated embodiments this is accomplished, by way of example, through the medium of a manually operable slide 46 which, in the present instance, may be shifted by operation of the inside door handle, or by the detent arm 36, or by a key operated lock. The slide member 46 is guided on the case plate ilange 25 in a vertical direction by means of upper and lower headed guide studs 41 and 48 secured to the case plate flange and extending through vertical guide slots 49 and 50, respectively, in the slide. The slide is formed near its upper end with a relatively deep outwardly extending projection 5| which, in the present instance, is :n the form of a channel shaped rib pressed .ir embossed in the slide. It will be noted that the lever arm 44h extends across the face of the slide and normally lies directly beneath the projection 5|. Hence, it will be readily seen that upon turning the inside door handle in one direction so as to swing the lever 44 to its position shown in broken lines in Fig 4 the lever arm 44h, by engagement with the projection 5| on the slide 46, will shift the slide upwardly to its full line position shown in Fig. Ll and its broken line position shown in Fig. 2. When the slide is thus shifted to its upward position the projection 5| on the slide will be disposed opposite the arm 4| on the release lever 31 and, hence, in blocking relation thereto. Hence, any attempt to swing the release lever 31 inwardly to disengage the detent 34 will be prevented or blocked by engagement of the arm 4l on the release lever with the projection 5| on the slide 46.

After the inside door handle has been Aturned in one direction so as to rock the lever 44 and shift the slide 46 upwardly as shown in Fig. 4, release of the door handle will cause the lever d4 to return to its full line position shown in Fig. 4 by virtue of the usual return spring associated with the door handle. As particularly` shown in Figs, 3 and 4, the slide 46 is cut away to provide a notch portion 52 to receive the inner end of the detent arm 36. When the slide is in its down position shown in Fig. 3 the lower edge 52a of this notch is disposed a predetermined distance below the detent arm 36. Projecting outwardly from the side edge of the notch 52 in the slide is a lug or projection 54 of suitable height, this lug being disposed a predetermined distance below the lever arm 44h in its normal position shown in Fig. 3. When the slide 46 is shifted to its upward position, as shown in Fig. 4, the lower edge 52a of the notched portion 52 will directly underlie the detent arm 36 and the lug 54 on the slide will directly underlie the lever arm 44h in substantial engagement therewith. Hence, upon operation of the inside remote control mechanism, including slide 46, by

turning the inside doorv handle so as to swing the lever arm 44b downwardly from its full line 8 position shown in Fig. 4, the slide 46 will be shifted downwardly by coaction of the lever arm 44h with the lug 54 on the slide. As the slide is thus shifted downwardly by the lever arm 44h the latter will engage the detent arm 36 and swing the same downwardly from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby disengaging the detent arm 34 from the toothed member 29. Thus, it will be seen that, even though the release lever 31 will be blocked by means of the projection 5| on the slide when the latter is shifted to its uppermost position, the slide will be returned downwardly to its normal position to move the projection `5| out of blocking position with respect to the arm 4| on the release lever 31 by turning the inside door handle so as to swing the lever arm 44h downwardly. Accordingly, it will be seen that up and down movement of the slide 46 may be accomplished by turning the inside door handle in one direction or the other to swing the lever arm 44h upwardly or downwardly, upward movement of the slide being accomplished by engagement of the lever arm with the projection 5| and downward movement of the slide being accomplished by engagement of the lever arm with the lug 54 on the slide, the latter being accompanied by disengagement of the detent from the toothed member 29 through coaction of the lever arm 44h with the detent arm 36.

In the event the slide 46 is shifted upwardly when the door is in open position, closing of the door will result in the detent arm 36 shifting the slide downwardly. When the door is closed with the slide 46 in its upper position engagement of the bolt 26 with the striker or keeper will rotate the plate 29 and thus swing the detent 32 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. This action will swing the detent arm 36 downwardly and by its engagement with the lower edge 52a of the notch 52 in the slide will shift the slide downwardly. The slide is yieldingly held and urged toward its upper and lower limits of movement by means of a snap-over spring 53 of suitable strength attached at one end to the slide and at its opposite end to the case plate iiange 25. When the slide is shifted downwardly, as by the action of the detent arm 36 as above described, the snap-over spring 53 will pass dead center and through its action will aid the detent arm in shifting the slide to its lowermost position. In the event the slide, for some reason, is moved out of blocking position with respect to arm 4| of the release lever but is not shifted to its full lowermost position, the release lever arm 4|, when shifted from its position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 5, will contact the upper side of the projection 5| on the slide and will force the slide downwardly to its lowermost position. Y

Where a key controlled device is used with any of the present embodiments the slide 46 is provided with a depending extension 46a having spaced lugs 55 and 56 pivotally receiving a rounded end of a swinging crank arm 51. 'I'his arm is pivoted to a bracket 58 on the case plate and provided with a square opening at the locality of its pivot to receive the square portion 59 of a key actuated shaft. 'I'his shaft is connected to the cylinder mechanism of any conventional lock having the usual key control. By turning the key in the lock on the outside of the door the crank arm 51 may be swung to shift the slide 46 vertically in one direction or the other in the same manner as may be accomplished by swinging the lever arm 44h upwardly or downwardly from its full line position shown in Fig. 4. The key control means for the slide 46 is usually embodied in the front door locks of an automobile body but is usually omitted from the locks used on the rear doors.

In the embodiment of Fig. the construction of the latch device mechanism is identical with that above described in connection with the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive with the exception that the key operated means for the slide is omitted and the extension 46a is also omitted. The embodiment of Fig. 10 also differs from the previous embodiment in that the depth of the notch 52 is increased so that the lower edge 52a thereof extends well below the lug 54. When. therefore, the slide is moved to its upper position to bring the lug 54 into engagement with the underside of the lever arm 44h the lower edge 52a of the notch 52 in the slide will be disposed sufliciently below the detent arm 36 as to prevent the latter' from shifting the slide downwardly when'the door is closed. Thus, with the door open the slide 46 in the embodiment of Fig. 10 may be set in its upper position, similar to the position shown in Fig. 4, by manipulating the inside door handle and the lever 44. Upon then closing the door downward motion of the detent arm 36 will not return the slide as in the previous embodiment, and hence the door will remain locked with the release lever 31 blocked in the manner previously described. In such case the door, using the embodiment of Fig. l0, can only be opened from the inside.

When mounting the case plate and latch mechanism carried thereby on the door jamb 22, see Fig. 9, the bolt 26 is passed through a circular hole in the door jamb. Since the diameter of this hole is at least as great as the maximum diameter of the toothed bolt 36, it will be apparent that portions of the hole or aperture in the jamb 22 will be exposed between the teeth of the bolt. This objectionable condition is overcome in the present instance by providing a flat escutcheon, disk or cap 6U which has a central flanged aperture tting around the annular bearing flange 28 in the case plate. The disk 60, being interposed between the bolt 2d and the case plate 24, completely closes the spaces between the teeth 36. The outer circular edge of the cap or disk is provided with a lateral ange 60a which is overlapped by the door jamb 22 around the edge of the aperture therein. Thus, when the case plate 24 is screwed tightly to the inner side of the door jamb the ilange 60a of the closure cap 60 will be clamped tightly between the case plate and door jamb.

In the several embodiments of the invention herein illustrated the rotary toothed latch.26 is actuated when the door` is closed by means of a striker or keeper device which is rigidly mounted on the jamb edge 23 of the body pillar or xed upright member of the door frame. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the strik-er device comprises a body member 6I which may be in the form of a die casting or a stamping, this member beingl secured to the body pillar by means of screws 62. The striker body is formed at iis lower edge with two,V integral tooth-like projections 63 and 64 forming therebetween a tooth space 65 having downwardly divergingside edges. When the door is moved to closed position and in any rotated position of the latch 26 one of the teeth 30, such as the tooth indicated at a, will engage the outer tapered edge 63a of the striker tooth B3, thereby rotating the latch to move the next succeeding tooth, indicated at b, into the tooth space 65, as shown in broken lincs in Fig. '7. If the door remains only partially closed with the latch 2G in its broken line position in Fig. l the latch will be in its safety locking position and the door will be positively held against opening movement by the tooth 63 on the striker. Continued closing movement of the door will cause thc bolt 26 to be rotated further by engagement of the tooth b with the outer edge of the tooth G4, thereby bringing the next succeeding tooth, indicated at c, into engagement with the inner edge 66 of the tooth 64, this latter edge being shaped in accordance with the curved contour of the tooth on the bolt. When the bolt thus reaches the full line position shown in Fig. 'l it will be in its 'normal final locking position with the door fully closed. It is important to note that in the final. locking position of the bolt the tooth 64 on the striker will be straddled or embraced by two of the bolt teeth, such as the teeth indicated at b and c, with the tooth b engaging the lower corner 64a of the tooth 64. Thus, the bolt will be in positive meshing relatior. with the final locking tooth 64 so as to be positively turncd or rotated even if the bolt moves bodily inwardly beyond its position shown in Fig.

. 'I such as when the door is slammed against a compressible rubber weatherstripping.

Cooperable with the upper' inclined surface 61a of the striker body El is a guide shoe 61 which is secured to the case plate 24 and which projects through a correspondingly shaped opening in the door jarnb E2. It will be understood that when the door is closed the shoe 61 engages and slides over the inclined surface Gla of the striker body and cooperates with the latch 23 to clamp or hold the door firmly in position against vertical movement during operation of the vehicle.

I claim:

1. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a lange extending from the inner edge of said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate p01- tion, a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion, a blocking portion on said lever, means manually operable from thc outside of the door for swinging said lever, detent means engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever about a common pivot axis therewith, said lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut the same upon swinging movement of said lever thereby to pivotally move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a member mounted for up and down movement on said support and having blocking means for cooperation with said blocking portion.' and inner manually operable means for moving said member to dispose said clocking means in position to be engaged by said blocking portion thereby to block said lever and render the same ineffective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device.

2. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion i'or disposition at the door jamb and having a ffarige extending from the inner edge of said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, a lever pivotally mounted oo said plate portion, a blocking portion on said lever, outer manually operable means for swinging said lever, de-

tent means engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever about an axis common to the pivot axis of said lever, said lever having an edge thereof arranged in opposing relation to a projection on said detent means to abut the same upon swinging movement of said lever thereby to pivotally move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a member mountedfor up and down movement on said support and having blocking means for cooperation with said blocking portion, and inner manually operable means for moving said member to dispose said blocking means in opposing relation to said blocking portion thereby to block said lever and render the same ineffective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device.

3. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at the door jamb and having a flange extending from the inner edge of said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion, a lever pivotally mounted on said plate portion, a blocking portion on said lever, manually operable means for swinging said lever and moving the same in a direction toward said flange, detent means engageable with said latch device for holding it in door latching position, said detent means being pivotally mounted on said plate portion to swing independently of said lever about a common pivot axis therewith, said lever having a part arranged in opposing relation to a part of said detent means to abut the same upon movement of said lever toward said flange thereby to pivotally move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device, a member mounted for up and clown movement on said flange and positioned opposite said lever and having a blocking portion adapted to be disposed opposite said first named blocking portion, and inner manually operable means for moving said member to dispose said last named blocking portion in position to be engaged by said iirst named blocking portion thereby to block said lever and render the same ineffective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device.

4. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support having a plate portion for disposition at vthe door jamb and having a iiange extending from the inner edge of said plate portion, a rotatable latch device mounted on said plate portion. detent means pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said plate portion comprising a unitary member having a plurality of rigid arms, one of said arms extending in one direction from the pivot axis of the detent means and engageable with said latch device for holding the same in latching position and a second one of said arms extending in an opposite direction from said pivot axis, a swinging lever mounted on said plate portion having a common pivot with said detent means, said lever and said second one of lsaid arms having parts disposed in lapping relation, one of said parts having a projection thereon lying in the path of movement of the other of said parts and engageable therewith upon swinging movement of said lever part toward said flange to cause swinging movement of said second arm of the detent means toward said flange and thereby move and disengage said one arm of the detent means from said latch device, said second arm being free to swing independently of said lever toward said ange, spring means urging said detent means in a direction to restore engagement of said one arm with said latch device, a member mounted for up and down movement on said support and having blocking means for cooperation with a blocking portion on said lever, and inner manually operable means for moving said member to dispose said blocking means in position to be engaged by said blocking portion thereby to block said lever and render the same ineffective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device.

5. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a

. support comprising a plate portion for disposition at the jamb edge of the door and a flange portion extending angularly from the inner edge portion thereof, a rotatable latch device comprising a bolt having a peripheral series of tooth-like projections and a latching member secured to the bolt and rotatably mounted on said plate portion and having a corresponding series of toothlike abutments, detent means, a pivot for pivotally mounting said detent means on said plate portion, said detent means having a rigid arm extending downwardly from said pivot and selectively engageable with 'said abutments for holding the latch member in latching position, said detent means having a second rigid arm extending upwardly from said pivot, a swinging outer manually operable lever pivotally mounted on said pivot to swing about the pivotal axis of said detent means and having an arm swingable inwardly toward said ilange portion upon manual operation of the lever, said lever arm and said second armof the detent being disposed in lapping relation, and one of said last named arms having a projecting part abutting a part of the other arm to provide for pivotal actuation of the detent means to disengage the same fromsaid latch member upon swinging said lever arm inwardly toward said ilange portion, a member mounted for up and down movement on said support and having blocking means for cooperation with a blocking portion on said lever, and inner manually operable means for moving said member to dispose said blocking means in position to be engaged by said blocking portion thereby to block said lever and render the same ineiTective to move said detent means out of holding position with respect to said latch device.

6. In a latch mechanism for a swinging door, a support comprising a plate portion for disposition at the jamb edge of the door and a flange portion extending angularly from the inner edge portion thereof, a rotatable latch device comprising a bolt having a peripheral series of tooth-like projections and a latching member secured to the bolt and rotatably mounted on said plate portion and having a corresponding series of tooth-like abutments, detent means, a pivot for pivotally mounting said detent means on said plate portion, said detent means having an arm extending downwardly from said pivot and selectively engageable with said abutments for holding the latch member in latching position, said detent means having a second arm extending upwardly from said pivot, a swinging outer manually operable lever pivotally mounted on said pivot to swing about the pivotal axis of said detent means and having an arm swingable inwardly toward said flange portion upon manual operation of the lever, said lever arm and said second arm of the detent being disposed in lapping relation, one of l1 said last named arms having a projecting part abutting a part of the other arm to provide for pivotal actuation of the detent means to disengage the same from said latch member upon swinging said lever arm inwardly toward said ange portion, and said detent means having a third arm extending toward said ange portion into position to be engaged by inner manually operable means effective to swing the detent means independently of said lever to disengage 10 the detent means from the latch device.

JOHN H. ROETHEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Garrett July 28, 1925 Schonitzer May 2, 1939 Marple Nov. 10, 1942 Wagner Feb. 12, 1946 Allen Aug. 30, 1949 

